Julia A Cronin

CROSBY, GAMMON

Posted By: Patricia Schulte (Crosby) (email)
Date: 2/27/2012 at 15:25:31

Julia A Crosby Gammon(born Cronin)
Born: 9 Sept 1874 (75) In: Lucas Co. Iowa to Richard Cronin and Katherine (Hailey) Cronin. Richard came from Ireland and Katherine is unknown.
Died: 16 Mar 1936 (age 61) In: Albia, Monroe county, Iowa, St Mary’s Catholic Cemetery

1880 Age 5 United States Census ; Residence Jackson, Clarke Co. , IA. Census shows Julia the youngest of four sisters; Ellen Cronin age 14, Katharine age 11, Anna age 7, and Julia age 5. It shows her father as Richard Cronin no mother listed. Richard is single at the time of this census, age 50, and a farmer. NARA film# T9-0332, pg 178,pg character D, entry#257, film # 1254332. Found on LDS genealogy records 2/26/12
1885 Age 11 United States Census Residence Woodburn, Jackson, Clark Co., Iowa. Census shows Anna age 13, Katherine age 16, and Julia age 11. Additional Census page shows Richard and Catharine Cronin as parents.. Found on LDS genealogy records 2/26/12
1896 Age 22 , 27 April 1896 Marriage record; Julia marries William Crosby, age 52 in Charition, Lucas, Iowa. Julia’s family were neighbors to William and Elizabeth Crosby. Elizabeth passed away Sept 1895. Ref; Iowa Marriage, 1809-1992, indexing project # M02553-5, System origin Iowa-Easy, Source film Number 1009241, Ref # pg 437. Found on LDS genealogy records 2/26/12
1899 Age 25 Marriage to Nicholas Crosby 14 Feb 1899 at Chariton, Lucas, Iowa. Nicholas was age 32 born 1867 nephew of William Crosby. This was a forced marriage as you will see reading on.

1899 Age 25 Julia is sentenced to prison for manslaugter
This is information given to me by my Aunt Gerry some years ago. Julia Crosby (Cronin) was born in Lucas County, Ia. The last of four children born to Richard and Katherine Cronin. All married and left home except Julia who stayed and kept house for her father. As I mentioned before, they were neighbors to William and Elizabeth Crosby. Elizabeth Crosby died Sept 1895. Julia married William Crosby, some 30 years her senior. A prominent farmer in Clarke and Lucas counties, Ia. He owned two farms and listed Julia as the executrix and inheritor of the farms. However, during William's last year of life he asked his Nephew, Nicholas Crosby, to come from Ireland to help manage the farms. William passed Dec. 1898. Prior to probate, Nicholas threatened Julia to marry him or he would bring all his relatives from New York and take every dollar from her. If she did marry him he would keep everything as is. Julia believed his threat and married Nicholas on Feb 14, 1899. William's will was probated March 14, 1899. Julia's father, Richard Cronin, lived with Julia and Nicholas. Both men were heavy drinkers. Julia filed for divorce on May 15, 1899. she was pregnant at the time. Several days after she filed, she, her father and a constable were in a the lawyer's office and Nicholas came in, drunk and abusive. He was asked to leave and when he started out, said, "The God damned bitch will never appear against me in a divorce case. I will kill her." Everyone in the room heard him, including Julia. At another time, according to trial records, he said. "He would kill the damned Irish bitch if he had to go to the farm and do it."
Julia was so afraid of Nick she would not stay at home. She and her son stayed at different homes overnight to escape him. She was about 12 weeks pregnant when she had a miscarriage May 26, 1899. After that she kept running away from Nick, fearful for her and her son's life. Even her father ran as everyone was afraid of Nick.
Julia and her father borrowed a revolver from a neighbor where they had been staying. On June 2, 1899 she, her father and a neighbor were hauling rock to put under a barn they were building. Nick came out to the place they were working. He began to work pounding on a fence post and Julia asked him to stop. She said, "that if the fence needed fixing she would hire someone to do it." He just kept pounding the post. They went back for

another load of rock and on the way back to the work site Julia pulled out the gun and offered it to her father. He wouldn't take it. She said Nick had a gun and he was going to shoot one of them. Julia shot and killed Nicolas Crosby at the fence post.

Julia pleaded guilty. It was a jury trial with 15 witnesses for the defense and three for the state. The judge sentenced here to six years hard labor at the penitentiary of Anamosa, Iowa, plus court costs. She served four years and was paroled. The court appointed a resident of the county to care for Johnny, her son, at the time he was age three.
Now, I can add the information you have given to me; Julia A. Crosby, inmate number 4377, was received in 1899 from Clark County Iowa to serve 6 years for Manslaughter. Unfortunately, no mug shot exists. 2/27/2012
Ref: History of Anamosa Penitentiary Iowa , Steve Wendl http://www.asphistory.com/
Steve, if you are interested in the story you are more than welcomed to put it on your site.
Thanks,
Patricia Schulte (Crosby), Julia is my Great Grandma, her son ,Johnny is my Grandfather. His son John Crosby Jr is my dad.
Ref: Main story from my Aunt Geraldine Crosby Rittenmeyer . Source: State Historical Society of Iowa, State Capital, Des Moines, Ia. (condensed from trial records) 11/7/1997

1903 Age 29 Julia is paroled from Anamosa Penitentiary
1908 Age 33 Julia marries for a third time. 20 Sept 1908 Julia marries Arthur L Gammon at Des Moines, Iowa. A.L. Gammon was born in Guthrie Co., Iowa. His parents are Warren Gammon from Maine and Annie E. Pickett from Michigan.
Ref; Iowa Marriages, 1809-1992 LDS genealogy records.
1910 Age 35 Julia resides at Jackson, Clarke co, Iowa. US Census shows Julia living with her husband Arthur L Gammon age 37 and her son John L. Crosby Sr., age 13
1936 Age 61 Julia’s Certificate of Death . Date of death as shown on death certificate is 16 Mar 1936. The certificate lists her trade as a hotel maid. Her death took place in Albia, Monroe County, Iowa. She was buried at St. Marys, Albia , Iowa 18 Mar 1936. The informant is listed as John Crosby, Albia, Ia. Julia’s cause of death was Pneumonia.

There is a time span from 1910 to 1936 which I continue to research with little success. Based on the information I’ve found so far It seems Julia’s life was very difficult at least her first 30 years. Hopefully, her third and last marriage brought her some happiness.